Pittsburgh Post-Gazette First Look Column

Mar. 15--Few sport utility vehicles have been as anticipated as Land Rover's all-new 2008 LR2 -- and with good reason.

First, it completes the total replacement of the entire Land Rover lineup. Second, it replaces the Freelander, a tiny SUV that, although quite competent, never really caught on in this country the way that it did in Europe. The styling was a bit awkward, for starters, as was the case with older Land Rover designs. There were some ergonomic and control placement issues as well.

But the LR2 wipes the slate clean with sophisticated, low-key styling that will remind many of the more expensive models in the lineup. It also comes with a much more powerful powertrain.

But the most important feature in my mind is the Terrain Response system. Just set the dial for sand, snow, rock climbing and other conditions, and the LR2's all-wheel-drive system adjusts itself to account for the variations. The result is off-road behavior that simply has no rival in its class.

I had a chance to drive it on an off-road course, and when we came to the edge of a hill with a steep drop down, the Land Rover instructor calmly told me, "Now, adjust the system and take your foot off the brake, and let the LR2 do the work."

Amazingly, the car just crept forward, ever so slowly, aided by hill descent control, negotiating the steep drop as though it were nothing but an ant hill. Quite a startling performance.

Power in the LR2 comes from an all-new 3.2-liter, 230-horsepower in-line-6 that hits 60 mph in 8.4 seconds. Fuel economy ratings are 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. It's not a race car, but nor is it a slug.

But what I really liked was the interior. It has a classy look with tasteful wood and aluminum accents. Though some pieces looked as though they originated in the Ford end of the family, they weren't distracting.

You'll find a nice chunky gear shift, an easy-to-use navigation system, and three large, easy-to-read gauges. But most of all, no weird positioning of controls as was seen on Land Rover models of years gone by.

Outside, the LR2 looks particularly nice from the front end with a cool, modern looking wire mesh grille and aggressive looking head lamps.

Prices start at $34,700.

If you're looking for a small and luxurious SUV, put this one on your shopping list. I'll have more details when I test one for a full week.

Don Hammonds can be reached at dhammonds@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1538.

-----

To see more of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.post-gazette.com.

Copyright (c) 2007, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

F,